Puerto Rican Wins Powerball; Twitter Racists Freak Out

Technically, Puerto Rico is part of America.

It’s bad enough that professionals searching for “PR” in Google have to sift through tourism advertisements from Puerto Rico, but now money in Powerball is going across a few islands to reach a lucky winner.

ICYMI: the recent Powerball drawing had three big winners: one in North Carolina, one in Texas and one in Puerto Rico. Given how this proud nation is 50 states strong, and its only assumed permissible island is in a different ocean, there were a few terse words exchanged via Twitter about this kerfuffle.

Section 933 of the U.S. tax code provides an exemption for Puerto Rico residents from paying federal income tax on “Puerto Rico-sourced income.” So taxes would get paid, just not on the federal level.

Even Powerball’s map will tell you that “America’s favorite lottery” is played in 44 States, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. In case you’re wondering: Puerto Rico is not a state, but it IS a commonwealth of America. Its residents can’t vote for President, but there you have it…any lottery winnings in Puerto Rico are still subject to the mandatory 20 percent state tax.

Some on social media were perturbed that Puerto Ricans don’t pay federal taxes for most things. Other people blamed Obama. Then there were your sundry racists.